Sing into the Weekend - Come From Away

The Day the World Came to Town. I read this book and reviewed it two years ago. I was prepping before seeing a Broadway touring production of Come From Away     Alas, my tickets were for March 2020. Whoops!  Pandemic shut down the world. 

Two years later, here's my Playbill for Come From Away. I enjoyed it two Sundays ago. This was a glorious production. Very clever telling of September 11, 2001 when thirty eight planes landed in Gander, Newfoundland. They were diverted due to airspace closures and an American shutdown due to the terrorist attacks. 

The population of Gander (7000) doubled in size and everyone worked  together to care for, feed, shelter, and help strangers who were scared, worried, and stressed. Multiple languages, cultures, food needs, and more needed to be addressed. 

This Broadway show is a complete ensemble - no major standout songs or stars. There is no intermission. It's a small cast that transforms in different  scenes with a clothing change and movement of chairs and tables. There is humor even in dark times. The love and care shine through some catchy tunes and good voices. 

Come From Away is a show with heart that shows the goodness of people in  a tough time. The lessons from 9/11 shine through and are applicable today. It was worth the two year wait to see. Live theater is just SO fun. 
 

Theater - Dear Evan Hansen

Black Friday - I spent the afternoon at the theater in Dallas - Fair Park Music Hall. The Dallas Musicals presented the touring production of the Tony Award winning Dear Evan Hansen, and it was a treat.

A lonely teenager lies and ups his celebrity quotient in school as the unknown before "best" friend of the kid (Connor Murphy) who committed suicide. But it was his (Evan's) letter, his own cry for help to himself, that the parents think was Connor's last words. In truth, Connor bullied Evan. Evan adored Connor's sister Zoe from afar.

Evan's single mom works a lot and goes to school, and, while she cares deeply, just isn't around much. Connor's folks grab hold of Evan as a conduit to their son's life. Evan hangs on to them as a lifeline of how a family "should" be.

This is a serious, angsty subject dealt with in current form - social media slides on the screen, a spare stage, and melodic tunes with strong lyrics - "When you're falling in a forest and there's nobody around, do you ever really crash, or even make a sound?" The pressure for kids these days is apparent in this very current musical.

 I was extremely impressed by the matinee understudy, San Primack. His voice was clear as a bell. Everyone was quite good and Dear Evan Hansen will stick with you.

Hamilton is the H beyond H

Before the show even won Tony awards, I bought the soundtrack to Hamilton, the Broadway musical sensation. I listened to the soundtrack and was wowed by the story, music, score, variety, and genius of Lin Manuel-Miranda.

I vowed that somehow I would see it when it came to Dallas.  Oh yeah - I won the lottery, literally. I was able to enter the ticket lottery and the day came and Ray was off work and could sign on and get us tickets.  Golden!!!

and then I waited and waited and finally April 4 arrived. We got to Fair Park Music Hall, sat in our seats, and the soundtrack came alive.  Amazing voices, sets, costumes, and production.  So clever, so superb - mix of hip-hop, rap, show tunes, current and past reference. Hamilton is the real deal!!

I loved it and the touring production was excellent.  Alexander Hamilton - young scrappy and hungry, just like his country.  Ready to give it his shot.  Rise up. And Eliza by his side......putting up with his crap.  The Founding Fathers - feuding for a new nation.   King George - ready to take us "back" and unbelieving that this rabble wants to leave and survive on their own.

The great experiment that is America has a lot to thank his obedient servant - A. Ham and his brilliant mind and writings like he was running out of time.

And Aaron Burr - the damn fool that shot him.  (Great singer - the actor was excellent)

If Hamilton comes to your town...........do it, get in a lottery, buy tickets, be amazed at musical magic.

Pie

P is for Pie.   When you walk out of Waitress, the musical, you will want a slice of pie.  I'm not even a "pie" person, and I wanted some pie. This touring production of a Broadway show was heavenly. Good story (based on the movie starring Keri Russell). Great singing (tunes by Sara Bareilles). Good acting. And just a fun theater experience. I was lucky to see this at a matinee in Dallas.

Jenna is in a rather loveless marriage. She was too young and now feels trapped since she's pregnant. Earl is abusive. But her job at Joe's Pies allows her to create and vent. Her grouchiest customer is Joe himself and thank goodness she treats him right. Her best friends at the diner are Becky and Dawn.

The show is about grit and determination. It's about taking no crap and taking care of yourself. It's about dreams and making those dreams come true.

The soundtrack is fabulous.  Fun,  excellent show.    Sugar, Flour, Butter..........that's the key to making dreams come true.

Musical: Kinky Boots

 Saturday February 28, Linda and Tom Hoffman and I saw the musical Kinky Boots at Dallas Fair Park Music Hall. Wow - what a production.  Based on a true story that had been a movie, Harvey Fierstein wrote the play book and Cyndi Lauper created the music and lyrics for a Broadway musical. Now the touring groups are kicking up their heels

 Here are a pair of signed boots from the Broadway show

 Here's our touring group. Picture courtesy of an email sent by the Dallas production. The premise is Charlie Price has to save his family's shoe factory. His new niche is stiletto boots for drag queens, et al. In working with Lola/Simon, the key theme is acceptance of a person, even yourself, without judgment or preordained thinking and presumptions. The factory is a family and has to work together too. All in all -  fabulous sets, catchy tunes, lovely voices, and the show makes you smile.

Linda and I in our very basic shoes. We've been friends for over thirty years!